Multiple Teams·
Mar 5
Coach’s Spotlight: Mike Eaton

Each week the Lovejoy Athletic Department will feature the outstanding contributions from a member of our coaching staff. We appreciate the time, dedication, and the leadership that they invest in our student-athletes. This week’s Spotlight is on ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­head wrestling coach, Mike Eaton.

The wrestling team had the largest number of qualifiers in team history this year and sophomore, Alex LeFort and junior, Morgan Elvin both placed 6th in their weight classes. The women’s team finished in the top 20 in state for the first time in history. The boys were led by sophomore, Hunter Duncan, and freshmen, Ralph Rucker.

Congratulations to Coach Ford and the entire wrestling program!

High School Attended: St. Mary’s

College Attended: Boston College

How many years and at what schools have you coached? 22 years: St. Mary’s – 1 year, South Grand Prairie – 6 years, Frisco Centennial – 9 years, Lovejoy – 6 years

What coaching awards have you received? Men’s & Women’s District and Regional Coach of the Year, NFHS Sectional and State Coach of the Year, and Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame.

What is the best part of coaching in Lovejoy? Coaching a program from ground up, one school town, with a middle school program.

What is one of your most memorable moments in coaching? Any one of the times when my wrestlers have won their first state title–that moment when the last whistle is blown and their goal has been achieved!!

Who is your favorite athlete and why? Dan Gable. He came back from adversity of losing his last college match of his career to win Olympic gold and become the most dominant coach of all time.

What do you like to do outside of work? Fishing and outdoor activities with family.

What is the best part of being a coach? I enjoy most when athletes I have coached come back and introduce me to their family. I enjoy seeing them as grown men and women and hearing how wrestling has helped develop them in their future lives.